General Question Plug & Go?

[Orachii]

Reader,

I downloaded this because most reviews I read made it sound like a 'PLUG' and go software. However, this is far from the truth. What made me download this was traveling space in a ship, but this seems to be a lack of doing this. I guess after reading a few reviews I expected something simple like:

1) Choose a Starship
2) Check out space...'want to go to Wasp 18b?'
3) Go!
4) Want to go their Star Trek style? Download, install...
5)GO!

Nope! I open this up and start it up. I found myself orbiting Earth...no ship...no traveling...no fun!

"Alright," I told myself. "off to the read me file(s)!"

Pretty basic stuff, but nothing to explain how to just 'Plug & Go.' Call me crazy, but I just want to travel the 'space in a ship' and would like to know how to do this...what scenario do I pick?

v/Respectfully,
Orachii

 

[Tommy]

You missed a step. Step three should be "Learn Basics of Orbital Mechanics"

Orbiter is a simulator. If you want to get to another planet, you have to know how to get there using realistic Newtonian Physics. In fact, Orbiter's home page warns about the "steep learning curve".

Check the tutorials section of the Forum, and I suggest starting with "Go Play In Space".

 

[PhantomCruiser]

First off; welcome to the 'forum!

As I think you've discovered (in much the same way I did), Orbiter isn't exactly a 'simulator' in the way of "X-Wing", or "Freelancer", or any of the "Trek" franchises.

It's much more of a die-hard space flight simulator, lot of science/physics/math involved, but the program typically does most of the hard part for you. The learning curve can be steep, but well worth the effort.

There is a Warpdrive MFD, http://www.orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=2297; and see Petr's work with the Trek world [ame="http://www.orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=4109"]STAR TREK UNIVERSE: UPDATE 2[/ame], he's also got a United Systems Fleet that seems to be pretty good too.
Search the 'hangar for Star Wars stuff and you can find [ame="http://www.orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=1454"]Super Millennium Falcon version 4.2[/ame] and many others, and there's plenty of BSG mods too. And the always excellent [ame="http://www.orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=1932"]World of 2001 v3.11[/ame], World of 2001.

Somewhere (if I can find it I'll link to it) there is a module that will let you fly around in space fantasy style (like in the movies and TV).

If you want to go hard-core; let me point you towards "Go Play In Space". http://www.orbiter-forum.com/tutorials.php
With it, you can learn the basics of Orbiter and the lingo needed to properly enjoy.

I discovered Orbiter while looking for a Firefly to cruise around in. That was nearly 5 years ago. Orbiter's appelal is that you can make it as realistic (NASSP, SSU) or fantasy (Cowboy Beebop) as you want.

There's plenty of help available, a quick search on the forum can probably answer 90% of the "easy" stuff, for everything else, just ask!

'Til then, Happy Orbiting!

 

[boogabooga]

No, Go Play in Space isn't going to cut it. You've been spoiled by the likes of George Lucas and James Cameron. I don't think you will like Orbiter. It doesn't work like what you see in movies. Orbiter is one solar system at a time.

If you just want to float around the universe and see visually stunning semi-realistic "space scapes" then I recommend Space Engine:
http://en.spaceengine.org/

If you are more serious about learning astronomy, then try Celestia:
http://www.shatters.net/celestia/

otherwise, try TIE Fighters, or something.

 

[Orachii]

No, Go Play in Space isn't going to cut it. You've been spoiled by the likes of George Lucas and James Cameron. I don't think you will like Orbiter. It doesn't work like what you see in movies. Orbiter is one solar system at a time.

If you just want to float around the universe and see visually stunning semi-realistic "space scapes" then I recommend Space Engine:
http://en.spaceengine.org/

If you are more serious about learning astronomy, then try Celestia:
http://www.shatters.net/celestia/

otherwise, try TIE Fighters, or something.

I have Celestia. Orbiter was suggest on a site. I thought it sounded cool, but in truth it lack simple features. Space Engine, is worthless and I prefer Celestia over it.

 

[Codz]

Well, the closest thing to what you seem to be wanting would be RWarp. Just punch your destination(and a few other variables) into the MFD and press go.

[ame="http://www.orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=4547"]Relativistic Warp MFD 1.5[/ame]

 

[BruceJohnJennerLawso]

Hate to contradict those with a little more experience, but I would suggest the achieving orbit tutorial in the main orbiter doc, before using Go play in space. Some of the stuff in go play in space was excellent (brighton beach), but some of it was awfully tedious(smack, IMHO). Speaking of, does anyone know the author of go play in space, and whether he will ever be updating it?

 

[Rtyh-12]

Hate to contradict those with a little more experience, but I would suggest the achieving orbit tutorial in the main orbiter doc, before using Go play in space.

I wouldn't recommend the tutorials that come with Orbiter, when I tried to use them for learning I found them too technical and not very helpful. The way I learned to fly was reading everything I could, from forum posts to random tutorials to NASA stuff to TV programmes. Just like learning a foreign language, every little thing helps. And just like learning a foreign language, it will take a long time. You need patience to fly in Orbiter like a pro.

That's not to say that you'll have to follow my learning curve. I'd suggest you to take it in in small steps. First learn the very basics of an orbit (the way you fall 'around' a body all the time, and such), then learn how to change the size and shape of your orbit, then just learn whatever you feel like doing at the time. Slowly, you'll start figuring things out.

Anyway, remember that, with or without Orbiter, your goal is to have fun; Orbiter may be a very good educational aid, but it's certainly not a required course. Good luck!

 

[Spacethingy]

Don't forget Tex's YouTube walkthroughs. They're pretty good.

 

[insanity]

I have Celestia. Orbiter was suggest on a site. I thought it sounded cool, but in truth it lack simple features. Space Engine, is worthless and I prefer Celestia over it.

I'd object to the notion that Orbiter lacks simple features. Orbiter is, by design, an incredibly complex simulation of physics. However, it is quite simple to setup a scenario and play in the sandbox providing you understand those physics.

Personally, I think the 'fun' of Orbiter is in learning as much as possible about a subject I previously had no knowledge of. Going from "Why can't I orbit, I took off and got really high but then I came crashing down!?!?!?!" to "I just preformed a slingshot tour of the solar system with a stop on the moons of Jupiter" has been the most rewarding experience I've ever had with a piece of software.

Your definition of 'fun' may differ from mine, of course, and you're free to seek out a program more suited to your expectations. However, I'd encourage you to give Orbiter an honest chance by starting with "Go Play in Space" and taking the time to learn about the complexities of going from Earth to dancing around the solar system.

 

[RisingFury]

Go play X3. You can even shoot space pirates.